Signaling device



July I,- 1930. R. B. BURGGRAF SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,za L

July 1,' 1930. R. B. BURGGRAF SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1930- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l atentecl July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RHODA IB. BURGGRAF, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI SIGNALING DEVICE Application filed February 17, 1930. Serial No. 429,173.

struction, and which is easy and effective in 1 its operation.

Another object is to provide a device of this character wherein a greater display of signal arm surface is possible than in similar devices hereto-fore.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which can be easily and quickly taken apart and assembled.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device in applied position on an automobile, the signal arm being in inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 8-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the signal arm containing casing.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 3.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 represents a portion of the body of an automobile, and 11 a portion of the instrument board, in connection with the present invention is especially adapted for use.

Disposed vertically against the left side of the body of the automobile, and adjacent of the drivers door thereof, is an elongated casing 12, having a vertical longitudinal slot 13 in its outer side edge, and the vertical openended slots 14, in the upper portions of its side walls. Disposed transversely through the casing, with its ends resting in the lowerends of the slots 14, is a shaft 15, and secured on said shaft, within the housing, is the depending signal arm 16, which is a representation of a human arm, with a hand on its outer end. It will be particularly noted that the shaft is eccentrically mounted within the inner end of the arm 16, for a purpose which willpresently appear herein. Pivotally connected to the forward wall of the housing, ad

jacent the lower end, and adjacent the inner or attached side wall, is an upwardly extending lever 17 and pivotally connected to the upper end of this lever is a short link 18, which has its other end pivotally connected with the intermediate portion of the upper end of the signal arm 16. A cap 19 closes the upper end of the housing, and has its depending flanges 20 disposedwithin the said end of the housing, such flanges being provided with openingsv 21, and having metal strips 22 secured to their inner faces, which strips all have openings registering with the openings 23, for the reception of the ends of the said shaft 15. Screws 24: are provided for securing the. cap in place. Upon removal of the screws 24, the cap, together. with the signal arm, may be conveniently lifted from the casing.

In the intermediate portion of the attached side wall ofthe casing there is formed an opening in which is secured the bushing '25, and slidable in this bushing is oneend of a rod 26, said rod extending into the casing and being pivotally connected with the lever 17, by means of the pin 27, said pin being disposed through a longitudinal slot 28, in the lever 17, to compensate for the arcuate movement of the arm 16, when swung on its pivot.

Properly secured to the lower edge of the instrument board 11, by means of the clamp 29, is a member 30, which has a longitudinal slot 31, in its front portion, the upper wall of said slot being formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth 32, as clearly seen in Figure 1.

- A pivot 33 is carried by the inner portion of the member 30, and mounted on this pivot is a horizontally movable lever 34. The outer end of the lever 34 is provided with a handle 35, and is adapted to be engaged in any one of the ratchet teeth 32, while the inner end of the lever is pivotally connected with a rod 36, which has its other end connectedwith the beforementioned rod 26, by means of the turnbuckle 37, by means of which adjust ment of the throw of the rod may be made.

Fixed on the forward end of theshaftlfi, outside of the casing 12, is a plate 38, which rotates with the shaft and signal arm, and serves to give the appearance of the arm being pivotally mounted on the outside of the casing.

The operation of the device may be brief- 1y described as follows:

Normally the arm 16 lies within the casing '12, and when the driver desires to signal a change of direction, he grasps the handle of the lever 34:, depresses the lever to a slight degree,'to disengage itvfrom the ratchet teeth, and then swings the lever toward the right. hen the lever is below the ratchet tooth 32, which corresponds to the position thesignal arm 16 is to assume, the operatorl rfts the leverso that it engages with said tooth. swinging movement of the lever 34 exerts a pushing action on the rods 26 and 36, with the result that the lever 1:7 is swung toward the outside of the casing 1-2, whereupon the link 18 will cause the signal arm 16 to swing upwardly into the position indicative of' the direct-ion in which the automobile is to go. An outward downward inclined position of the arm indicates a left turn; a horizontal position indicates a stop; while an upward outward inclined position indicates a right turn. Placing the lever :34 in anyone =of the teeth :32 will produce a corresponding movement and positioning of the signal arm.

Ordinarily only that part of the arm 16., which projects beyond theside of the casing, would be seen, and to produce the effect that the entire arm is pivotally mounted on the front of the casing, and that the observer sees the entire/arm, the plate 3851s provided, to move with the shaft 15, and. the said arm,

1' such plate being of the same color *as that of thearm.

What is claimed is:

'1. A direction signal for a vehicle" coinprising a casing, a signal arm mounted-in the casing for movement into and out of the casing, and :means outside of the casing and movable with the arm for lending the appearanceof'acon'tinuation of the arm.

'2. A direction signal .for :a vehicle oomprising a casing, a signal arm pivotally BHODA B. BURGGRAF. 

